Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a storage space, a barrier main body, an insulator, an evaporator, a fan motor assembly, a barrier cover, and a cooling-air passage. The storage space includes a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment. The barrier main body defines the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment. The insulator is disposed at a side of the barrier main body to insulate the refrigerator compartment from the freezer compartment. The evaporator is disposed at a side of the insulator to generate cooling air. The fan motor assembly is disposed at an upper side of the evaporator to provide a driving force for circulating cooling air. The barrier cover is configured to cover sides of the evaporator and the fan motor assembly. The cooling-air passage is defined between the insulator and the barrier cover to allow a flow of cooling air generated by the evaporator.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

Refrigerators are home appliances for storing foods at low temperatures.Air cooled by heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in arefrigeration cycle is used to cool the storage space of a refrigeratorso that foods stored in the storage space can be kept in optimalconditions.

Along with the change of people's eating patterns and preference, largeand multi-functional refrigerators have been introduced, andrefrigerators having various storage space structures have beenintroduced.

Generally, the inner storage space of a refrigerator is divided into arefrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, and the refrigeratorcan be variously configured according to the arrangement of therefrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.

For example, in a side-by-side type refrigerator, a refrigeratorcompartment and a freezer compartment are arranged in left and rightsides and are configured to be individually opened and closed by using arefrigerator compartment door and a freezer compartment door.

In the side-by-side refrigerator, an evaporator is disposed at a rearside of the refrigerator compartment and/or the freezer compartment tosupply cooling air to the refrigerator compartment and the freezercompartment, and thus the inner space of the side-by-side refrigeratoris reduced by the space necessary to install the evaporator.

For this reason, Korean Patent No. 10-039849 discloses a refrigerator.In the disclosed refrigerator, an evaporator and a cooling aircirculation fan are disposed in a barrier which divides the inner spaceof the refrigerator into a refrigerator compartment and a freezercompartment.

However, in the disclosed refrigerator, the barrier in which theevaporator and the cooling air circulation fan are disposed is notsufficiently insulated, and thus the refrigerator compartment can beover-cooled. In addition, cooling air cannot be smoothly circulated inthe barrier because the inner space of the barrier is narrow.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Embodiments provide a refrigerator having a wider inner storage spacewhile maintaining the insulating performance of a barrier.

Embodiments also provide a refrigerator in which cooling air can flowsmoothly in a barrier accommodating an evaporator.

Embodiments also provide a refrigerator in which cooling air can flowsmoothly to a freezer compartment and a freezer compartment.

Solution to Problem

In one embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a storage space including afreezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment; a barrier main bodydefining the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment; aninsulator disposed at a side of the barrier main body to insulate therefrigerator compartment from the freezer compartment; an evaporatordisposed at a side of the insulator to generate cooling air; a fan motorassembly disposed at an upper side of the evaporator to provide adriving force for circulating cooling air; a barrier cover configured tocover sides of the evaporator and the fan motor assembly; and acooling-air passage defined between the insulator and the barrier coverto allow a flow of cooling air generated by the evaporator.

In another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a storage spaceincluding a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment; abarrier main body defining the freezer compartment and the refrigeratorcompartment; an evaporator disposed at a side of the barrier main bodyto generate cooling air; a fan motor assembly disposed at an upper sideof the evaporator to provide a driving force for circulating coolingair; a barrier cover configured to cover sides of the evaporator and thefan motor assembly; and a cooling-air discharge part disposed at anupper part of the barrier main body or the barrier cover to dischargecooling air to the storage space, wherein the cooling-air discharge partincludes a first guide rib sloped downward to discharge cooling airtoward a lower part of the storage space.

The cooling-air discharge part may further include: a second guide ribsloped toward a front side of the storage space; and a third guide ribsloped toward a rear side of the storage space.

The refrigerator may further includes a cooling-air inlet part disposedat a lower part of the barrier main body or the barrier cover to guidecooling air to the evaporator after the cooling air is circulated in thestorage space, wherein the cooling-air inlet part may be located underthe evaporator.

The cooling-air inlet part may include an inlet guide sloped upward in adirection from the storage space to the barrier main body or the barriercover.

The cooling-air discharge part may further include: a central guide todischarge cooling air to a lateral side of the storage space; and alateral guide to discharge cooling air toward the front or rear side ofthe storage space.

The lateral guide may be provided in plurality between the central guideand the cooling-air discharge part, wherein the slope of the lateralguide may increase from the central guide to the cooling-air dischargepart.

The barrier main body may include: a first case facing the refrigeratorcompartment; a second case facing the freezer compartment; and a concavepart formed at the second case by recessing a part of the second casetoward the refrigerator compartment to accommodate the evaporator andthe fan motor assembly.

The cooling-air discharge part may further include: cover outletsdisposed at the barrier cover to discharge cooling air to the freezercompartment; and an outlet grill disposed at the barrier main body todischarge cooling air to the refrigerator compartment, wherein a firstoutlet of the cover outlets may be disposed at a position facing theoutlet grill.

The refrigerator may further include a damper member disposed betweenthe first outlet and the outlet grill to selectively discharge coolingair to the refrigerator compartment.

The barrier main body may further include an inlet grill to allow aninflow of cooling air from the refrigerator compartment, wherein theinlet grill may be disposed at a rear side of the barrier main body.

In another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet forming astorage space; a barrier dividing the storage space into a freezercompartment and a refrigerator compartment, the barrier including aconcave part; an evaporator disposed in the concave part; and a catchhook disposed at the evaporator so as to be hooked on an inside of thebarrier.

The catch hook may be inserted through a catch slot disposed at a sideof the concave part and then be hooked.

The catch hook may be hooked in a catch space communicating with theconcave part.

In another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet forming astorage space; a barrier dividing the storage space into a freezercompartment and a refrigerator compartment, the barrier including aconcave part; a barrier cover configured to cover the concave part; anevaporator disposed in the concave part; a fixing member disposedthrough a surface of the concave part such that both ends of the fixingmember are disposed in the concave part and the barrier; and a couplingpiece coupled to the fixing member to fixing the evaporator to an insideof the concave part.

A catch protrusion may be disposed at an end of the fixing memberdisposed in the barrier to prevent the fixing member from being freelydetached in a state where the fixing member is inserted through thesurface of the concave part.

In a state where the end of the fixing member disposed in the barrier isinserted through a side of the evaporator, the coupling piece may becoupled to the fixing member.

The barrier may be constituted by a part of an inner case forming thefreezer compartment, a part of an inner case forming the refrigeratorcompartment, and a front plate forming a part of a front surface of thecabinet.

A part of the barrier adjacent to the freezer compartment may berecessed toward the refrigerator compartment to form the concave part.

An insulation layer may be disposed in the barrier between therefrigerator compartment and the concave part.

The refrigerator may further include a sealing member to seal a gapbetween the barrier and the barrier cover.

The barrier cover may include at least two parts, and the sealing membermay seal a gap between the parts of the barrier cover.

The evaporator may include: a refrigerant tube in which a refrigerantflows; and a plurality of fins through which the refrigerant tube isinserted. Based on an imaginary vertical line passing through centers ofthe fins, ends of the fins are close to the freezer compartment and theother ends of the fins are close to the refrigerator compartment, andthe refrigerant tube may be more distant from the other ends of the finsthan the ends of the fins.

In another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet forming astorage space; a barrier dividing the storage space into a freezercompartment and a refrigerator compartment, the barrier including aninsulator at an inner side and a concave part at a side; an evaporatorin the concave part; a blower unit disposed in the concave part at anupper side of the evaporator; and a barrier cover configured to coverthe concave part, wherein the evaporator includes a first tube in whichrefrigerant flows, a second tube in which the refrigerant flowsindependently of the first tube; and a plurality of heat exchange finsthrough which both the first and second tubes are inserted, wherein therefrigerant flows in one or both of the first and second tubes accordingto temperatures of the freezer compartment and the refrigeratorcompartment.

The refrigerator may further include a value configured to control arefrigerant passage so that the refrigerant flows in one or both of thefirst and second tubes.

If the temperature of the freezer compartment reaches a set temperature,the refrigerant may flow both of the first and second tubes regardlessof the temperature of the refrigerator compartment.

Alternatively, if the temperature of the freezer compartment reaches theset temperature but the temperature of the refrigerator compartment doesnot reach a set temperature, the refrigerant may flow only in the firsttube.

A distance between the first tube and the barrier cover may be greaterthan a distance between the second tube and the barrier cover.

Based on a flow direction of cooling air, the second tube may bedisposed at a downstream side of the first tube.

A distance from the barrier cover to a line bisecting the heat exchangefins in left and right parts may be greater than a distance from thebarrier cover to a line bisecting a horizontal distance between thefirst and second tubes that are disposed at the same height.

The barrier may be constituted by a part of a first inner case formingthe freezer compartment and a part of a second inner case forming therefrigerator compartment, wherein the evaporator may include a mountingstructure so as to be mounted on the first inner case, and the firstinner case may include a catch slot so as to be coupled with themounting structure.

The refrigerator may further include: a compressor configured tocompress the refrigerant; and a bypass tube through which therefrigerant is bypassed from the compressor to an inlet side of theevaporator, wherein if it is necessary to defrost the evaporator, therefrigerant discharged from the compressor may be guide to the inletside of the evaporator through the bypass tube, and then the refrigerantmay flow through one or both of the first and second tubes.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the embodiments, the cooling-air passage is disposedbetween the barrier and the barrier cover, and the insulator is providedin the barrier. Therefore, supply of cooling air to the refrigeratorcompartment can be controlled.

In addition, the cooling-air passage is formed in the insulator, and theinsulator is coupled to a side of the case of the barrier. Thus, thebarrier can have a simple structure while maintaining its insulatingperformance.

In addition, since the vacuum insulator is included in the insulatordisposed in the barrier, the insulating performance of the barrier canbe good.

In addition, since the blower unit accommodating part is deeper thanother accommodating parts, a space through which cooling air flows fromthe evaporator to the blower fan can be sufficiently ensured, and thuscooling air can flow more smoothly.

In addition, since the blower unit accommodating part and thecooling-air passage are formed in the barrier by recessing parts of thebarrier, cooling air can flow more smoothly in the barrier, and thebarrier can have a simple structure.

In addition, since the cooling-air passage is disposed between thebarrier and the barrier cover, cooling air can be easily discharged fromthe cooling-air passage to the storage space.

In addition, the cooling-air outlet is formed in an upper part of thebarrier in a manner such that cooling air can be discharged from thecooling-air outlet to an upper or lower side of the storage space.Therefore, the storage space can be uniformly cooled.

In addition, the cooling-air inlet is formed in a lower part of thebarrier. Thus, cooling air introduced into the barrier through thecooling-air inlet can be effectively supplied to the evaporator.

In addition, since the blower unit accommodating part is deeper thanother parts, a space through which cooling air flows from the evaporatorto the blower fan can be ensured, and thus the flow efficiency ofcooling air can be improved.

In addition, since the blower unit accommodating part and thecooling-air passage are formed in the barrier by recessing parts of thebarrier, the flow efficient of cooling air in the barrier can beimproved, and the structure of the barrier can be simple.

In addition, the evaporator includes a plurality of tubes through whichrefrigerant can flow independently, and it can be controlled thatrefrigerant flows in some of the tubes for cooling the refrigeratorcompartment. Therefore, an evaporator having a small capacity can beused, and thus the output power of the compressor can be reduced to saveelectricity.

In addition, some of the tubes of the evaporator where refrigerant flowsto reduce the temperature of the refrigerator compartment are disposedcloser to the freezer compartment than to the refrigerator compartmentbased on the positions of heat exchange fins. Therefore, heat exchangebetween the evaporator (or the evaporator accommodating part) and therefrigerator compartment can be minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the refrigerator when doors ofthe refrigerator are opened according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a barrier accordingto the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a concave part of the barrieraccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away view illustrating a section taken along line 6-6′of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a cooling air flow state of the barrierobserved from a freezer compartment side.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a cooling air flow state of the barrierobserved from a refrigerator compartment side.

FIG. 9 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating a barrieraccording to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating the barrier according to thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a barrier according to athird embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a barrier accordingto a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the barrier.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14′ of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15′ of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16-16′ of FIG. 12.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a cooling air flow state of the barrierobserved from a refrigerator compartment side.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken line 18-18′ of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a barrier accordingto a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the barrier.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view illustrating portion A of FIG. 20.

FIGS. 22 to 24 are views for explaining processes of fixing anevaporator of a refrigerator according to the fifth embodiment.

FIGS. 26 and 27 are sectional view illustrating another structure fordisposing the evaporator.

FIG. 28 is a schematic view illustrating a refrigerant cycle of arefrigerator according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a barrier accordingto the embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the barrier.

FIG. 31 is a vertical sectional view illustrating another evaporatorstructure of the barrier according to the embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating another evaporator structureaccording to the embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodimentsset forth herein; rather, that alternate embodiments included in otherretrogressive inventions or falling within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure can easily be derived through adding, altering, andchanging, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to thoseskilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to anembodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating therefrigerator when doors of the refrigerator are opened according to thefirst embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 of the first embodimentincludes a cabinet 10 forming a storage space and doors 20 configured toclose and open the storage space.

The cabinet 10 has a hexahedron shape with an opened front side. Thecabinet 10 is divided by a barrier 100 into left and light parts to forma freezer compartment 30 and a refrigerator compartment 40. A pluralityof drawers and shelves are provided in the freezer compartment 30 andthe refrigerator compartment 40 so that various foods can be stored.

The doors 20 are used to close and open the freezer compartment 30 andthe refrigerator compartment 40 individually. For this, the doors 20include a freezer compartment door 22 corresponding to the opened frontside of the freezer compartment 30, and a refrigerator compartment door24 corresponding to the opened front side of the refrigeratorcompartment 40.

The freezer compartment door 22 and the refrigerator compartment door 24are rotatably coupled to the cabinet 10, respectively, so that thefreezer compartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40 can be openedand closed. A plurality of baskets may be provided at the rear sides ofthe freezer compartment door 22 and the refrigerator compartment door 24to store foods. In addition, if necessary, an ice maker, a dispenser,and a home bar may be provided at the freezer compartment door 22 andthe refrigerator compartment door 24.

The barrier 100 is disposed vertically in the storage space of thecabinet 10, and the freezer compartment 30 and the refrigeratorcompartment 40 are disposed at the left and right sides of the barrier100. In addition, the barrier 100 is configured to insulate the freezercompartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40 from each other forpreventing heat exchange therebetween.

Hereinafter, the barrier 100 will be described in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the barrier 100 ofthe first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4′of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a concave part of thebarrier 100 of the first embodiment; and FIG. 6 is a cut-away viewillustrating a section taken along line 6-6′ of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the barrier 100 includes a barrier main body101 and a barrier cover 400. The freezer compartment 30 and therefrigerator compartment 40 are separated by the barrier main body 101.The barrier main body 101 extends vertically in the cabinet 10, and anevaporator 110 and a blower unit 130 are disposed in the barrier mainbody 101.

The barrier main body 101 includes cases which form inner sides of thefreezer compartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40. The casesinclude a first case 170 forming a side of the refrigerator compartment40 and a second case 180 forming a side of the freezer compartment 30.

An insulator is disposed between the first case 170 and the second case180 so that the barrier 100 can insulate the refrigerator compartment 40from the freezer compartment 30. The insulator may be formed by fillinga foaming agent between the cases.

A concave part 200 is disposed in a freezer compartment side of thebarrier 100. The concave part 200 may be formed by recessing at least apart of the second case 180.

In detail, the concave part 200 includes an evaporator accommodatingpart 210 in which the evaporator 110 is accommodated, a blower unitaccommodating part 220 in which the blower unit 130 is accommodated tocirculate cooling air, and a cooling-air passage 230 configured tosupply cooling air generated by the evaporator 110 to the freezercompartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40.

The evaporator accommodating part 210 is disposed at a lower part of thebarrier 100 and is slightly larger than the evaporator 110 toaccommodate the evaporator 110.

The evaporator accommodating part 210 has a sufficient depth such thatthe evaporator 110 may not protrude from the outside of the barrier 100.The evaporator 110 may be disposed in the evaporator accommodating part210 by using additional fixing members or structures.

The evaporator 110 includes refrigerant tubes 112 arranged along thesame vertical extension lines. For example, the evaporator 110 may be amulti flow channel type condenser which includes left and right headersand refrigerant tubes disposed between the headers.

A cooling-air inlet 212 is disposed at a lower end of the evaporatoraccommodating part 210. Cooling air may be introduced into thecooling-air inlet 212 from the inside of the refrigerator compartment40, and the cooling-air inlet 212 may be disposed at a rear side of theevaporator accommodating part 210.

An inlet grill 214 is disposed at an outer side of the cooling-air inlet212 to guide cooling air from the inside of the refrigerator compartment40 to the inside of the barrier 100. The inlet grill 214 may preventpermeation of foreign substances from the refrigerator compartment 40.

The cooling-air inlet 212 may be disposed at a position corresponding tothe position of a structure such as a drawer provided in therefrigerator compartment 40 so that the cooling-air inlet 212 may not beexposed when the refrigerator compartment door 24 is opened.

A drain pan 120 is disposed under the evaporator accommodating part 210to drain defrosted water. The drain pan 120 may be coupled to a lowerpart of the evaporator 110 and may communicate with a machine room ofthe cabinet 10.

The blower unit accommodating part 220 is disposed at an upper side ofthe evaporator accommodating part 210. The blower unit accommodatingpart 220 provides a space in which the blower unit 130 can beaccommodated. The blower unit 130 includes a motor 132, a blower fan134, and a shroud 136.

In detail, the motor 132 may be used to rotate the blower fan 134. Themotor 132 may be a general electric motor of the related art.

The blower fan 134 is disposed on a rotation shaft of the motor 132. Theblower fan 134 includes a centrifugal fan configured to receive coolingair in a rotation shaft direction and discharge the cooling air in acircumferential direction. A turbo fan having good blowing performancemay be used as the blower fan 134.

The motor 132 and the blower fan 134 are disposed in a center part ofthe blower unit accommodating part 220. The motor 132 may be coupled tothe blower unit accommodating part 220 by using additional couplingmembers.

The shroud 136 guides cooling air into and out of the blower fan 134.

The blower fan 134 is disposed in the shroud 136. The shroud 136includes an orifice 137 formed at a position corresponding to theposition of the rotation center of the blower fan 134, and a dischargehole 139 formed in the direction of the cooling-air passage 230.

Cooling air is introduced into the shroud 136 through the orifice 137and is discharged from the shroud 136 through the blower fan 134 and thedischarge hole 139.

The shroud 136 may be coupled to the blower unit accommodating part 220or the barrier cover 400 (described later). If necessary, the shroud 136and the barrier cover 400 may be formed in one piece.

Cooling-air guide parts 222 are formed on both sides of the blower unitaccommodating part 220. The cooling-air guide parts 222 guide coolingair from the evaporator accommodating part 210 to the shroud 136.

The cooling-air guide parts 222 may be narrowed as it goes upward. Thatis, the cooling-air guide parts 222 may be sloped or rounded as it goesupward.

In detail, the bottom side of the blower unit accommodating part 220 mayhave the same width as that of the topside of the evaporatoraccommodating part 210, and the topside of the blower unit accommodatingpart 220 may have the same width as that of the bottom side of thecooling-air passage 230 (described later). At this time, the topside ofthe blower unit accommodating part 220 has the same width as that of thedischarge hole 139 of the shroud 136.

In addition, the blower unit accommodating part 220 is deeper than theevaporator accommodating part 210 and the cooling-air passage 230 sothat the blower unit accommodating part 220 is spaced apart from theshroud 136.

In this case, cooling air supplied from the evaporator accommodatingpart 210 may smoothly flow to the orifice 137 through a gap between theblower unit accommodating part 220 and the shroud 136.

Since the evaporator accommodating part 210 and the blower unitaccommodating part 220 have different depth, the evaporatoraccommodating part 210 and the blower unit accommodating part 220 form astepped part. Thus, the thickness of the insulator disposed in thebarrier 100 may be different at the evaporator accommodating part 210and the blower unit accommodating part 220.

In detail, since the evaporator accommodating part 210 is shallower thanthe blower unit accommodating part 220, the insulator is thicker at theevaporator accommodating part 210 than at the blower unit accommodatingpart 220. Therefore, the evaporator 110 which is cooler than other partsmay be reliably insulated.

In addition, owing to the structure, a wider cooling-air passage can beguaranteed at the blower unit 130. Although the thickness of theinsulator is relatively thin at the blower unit accommodating part 220,since the temperature of the blower unit 130 is relatively higher thanthe evaporator 110, the blower unit 130 may be sufficiently insulated.

The evaporator accommodating part 210 and the blower unit accommodatingpart 220 which have different depths are connected through a connectionpart 240. The connection part 240 forms a boundary between theevaporator accommodating part 210 and the blower unit 130, and owing tothe connection part 240, cooling air may flow smoothly into the blowerunit accommodating part 220.

The cooling-air passage 230 is disposed at the topside of the blowerunit accommodating part 220. The cooling-air passage 230 extends to anupper part of the barrier 100 so that cooling air discharged from thedischarge hole 139 of the shroud 136 can be guided to the refrigeratorcompartment 40 and the freezer compartment 30.

The width of the cooling-air passage 230 may correspond to the width ofthe opened topside of the blower unit accommodating part 220 or thewidth of the discharge hole 139 of the shroud 136.

The cooling-air passage 230 is shallower than the blower unitaccommodating part 220. Therefore, the insulator may be thicker at thecooling-air passage 230 than at the blower unit accommodating part 220.

That is, the insulator includes a first insulator part 310 at a positioncorresponding to the evaporator accommodating part 210, a secondinsulator part 320 at a position corresponding to the blower unitaccommodating part 220, and a third insulator part 330 at a positioncorresponding to the cooling-air passage 230.

In detail, the first insulator part 310 is disposed between the firstcase 170 and the second case 180 at a position corresponding to theevaporator accommodating part 210, and the second and third insulatorparts 320 and 330 are disposed between the first case 170 and the secondcase 180 at positions corresponding to the blower unit accommodatingpart 220 and the cooling-air passage 230.

That is, the cooling-air passage 230 may be defined as a space betweenthe insulator (the third insulator part 330) and the barrier cover 400.

Owing to this structure, the insulator (310, 330) can be sufficientlyprovided at a side of the evaporator 110 where cooling air is generatedand a side of the cooling-air passage 230 where the cooling air flows,and thus the refrigerator compartment 40 can be sufficiently insulated.

In addition, a sufficient cooling-air passage can be guaranteed at aside of the blower unit 130 through which cooling air flows from theevaporator accommodating part 210 to the cooling-air passage 230 whilethe flow direction of the cooling air is varied. Therefore, cooling aircan flow smoothly through the blower unit 130.

The cooling-air passage 230 may be defined as a space between thebarrier cover 400 and the second case 180. The cooling-air passage 230may be formed by coupling the barrier cover 400 to a side of the secondcase 180.

The cooling-air outlet 232 is disposed on the topside of the cooling-airpassage 230. The cooling-air outlet 232 may be disposed at a top centerpart of the barrier 100 and may be exposed to the refrigeratorcompartment 40. An outlet grill 234 is provided at the cooling-airoutlet 232 to guide cooling air discharged to the refrigeratorcompartment 40.

A cooling-air distribution device 140 is disposed in the cooling-airpassage 230 at a position corresponding to the cooling-air outlet 232.The cooling-air distribution device 140 is used to selectively supplycooling air from the cooling-air passage 230 to the cooling-air outlet232.

The cooling-air distribution device 140 includes a damper, and a passageto the cooling-air outlet 232 is selectively opened and closed by thedamper.

When the cooling-air distribution device 140 is opened, at least a partof cooling air guided through the cooling-air passage 230 may bedischarged to the refrigerator compartment 40 through the cooling-airoutlet 232.

On the other hand, if the cooling-air distribution device 140 is closed,cooling air guided through the cooling-air passage 230 may be dischargedto the freezer compartment 30 but may not be discharged to therefrigerator compartment 40.

The barrier cover 400 is disposed at a side of the concave part 200. Thebarrier cover 400 is provided as an element of the barrier 100 to coverthe concave part 200.

The barrier cover 400 forms a part of a side of the barrier 100, thatis, a part of an inner wall of the freezer compartment 30. In a statewhere the barrier cover 400 is disposed on the barrier 100, the barriercover 400 and the side surface of the barrier 100 form the same plane.

The barrier cover 400 may be formed of a one-piece plate or a pluralityof parts. In the latter case, the barrier cover 400 may be divided intoparts that cover the evaporator accommodating part 210, the blower unitaccommodating part 220, and the cooling-air passage 230, respectively.

The other side surface of the barrier 100 opposite to the barrier cover400 is formed into a flat shape without any protruded part to form apart of an inner wall of the refrigerator compartment 40. That is, bothside surfaces of the barrier 100 may be flat.

A back surface of the barrier cover 400 corresponding to the evaporator110 is brought into contact with the evaporator 110, and a mountingguide 420 is provided on the barrier cover 400 to guide the evaporator110 when the barrier cover 400 and the evaporator 110 are coupled.

A side of the blower unit accommodating part 220 opened to the freezercompartment 30 is blocked by a back surface of the barrier cover 400corresponding to the blower unit accommodating part 220 so that coolingair can be guide to the orifice 137 of the shroud 136.

A side of the cooling-air passage 230 opened to the freezer compartment30 is blocked by a back surface of the barrier cover 400 correspondingto the cooling-air passage 230 so that cooling air can flow through thecooling-air passage 230.

A cover inlet 430 is formed in a lower end of the barrier cover 400corresponding to the evaporator accommodating part 210. The cover inlet430 guides cooling air from the freezer compartment 30 to the evaporatoraccommodating part 210.

A plurality of cover outlets 410 are formed in an upper part of thebarrier cover 400 corresponding to the cooling-air passage 230. Thecover outlets 410 may be arranged at predetermined intervals. Coolingair flowing through the cooling-air passage 230 may be introduced intothe freezer compartment 30 through the cover outlets 410.

Mounting parts 440 are formed on both sides of the barrier cover 400.The barrier cover 400 may be fixed to the side surface of the barrier100 by fastening the mounting parts 440 with coupling members (notshown).

Parts of the barrier 100 corresponding to the mounting parts 440 arerecessed so that the mounting parts 440 may not protrude outwardly.

Hereinafter, an explanation will be given on an operation of therefrigerator 1 of the first embodiment with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a cooling air flow state of the barrier100 observed from a freezer compartment side, and FIG. 8 is a viewillustrating a cooling air flow state of the barrier 100 observed from arefrigerator compartment side.

When the refrigerator 1 is powered, the refrigerator 1 operates on arefrigeration cycle. During the refrigeration cycle, cooling air isgenerated from the evaporator 110.

First, supply of cooling air to the freezer compartment 30 will beexplained with reference to FIG. 7.

To supply cooling air to the freezer compartment 30, the blower fan 134is rotated by the motor 132. As the blower fan 134 operates, cooling airis introduced into the cover inlet 430, and the cooling air exchangesheat with the evaporator 110.

Then, the cooling air flows upward in the evaporator accommodating part210 and enters the inside of the blower unit accommodating part 220along the connection part 240. In the blower unit accommodating part220, the cooling air is introduced into the orifice 137 of the shroud136 along the cooling-air guide parts 222.

The cooling air introduced into the shroud 136 is discharged through thedischarge hole 139 of the shroud 136 and is guided to the cooling-airpassage 230. The cooling air guided to the cooling-air passage 230 issupplied into the freezer compartment 30 through the cover outlets 410of the barrier cover 400.

Since the cover outlets 410 are arranged vertically at a plurality ofpositions, the cooling air can be uniformly discharged into the freezercompartment 30 through the cover outlets 410. The inside of the freezercompartment 30 is cooled by the cooling air, and then the cooling air isintroduced into the cover inlet 430 again by the blower fan 134. In thisway, the cooling air is circulated.

At this time, if the cooling-air distribution device 140 is in a closedstate, the cooling air is not supplied to the refrigerator compartment40 but is supplied only to the freezer compartment 30.

The evaporator accommodating part 210, the blower unit accommodatingpart 220, and the cooling-air passage 230 are covered by the barriercover 400 which has a relatively small thickness. Therefore, there maybe conductive heat exchange between the inside of the freezercompartment 30 and the cooling air flowing in the concave part 200.

Supply of cooling air to the refrigerator compartment 40 will beexplained with reference to FIG. 8.

When the blower fan 134 is operated, cooling air is introduced into thebarrier 100 through the cover inlet 430 and the cooling-air inlet 212.Then, the cooling air exchanges heat with the evaporator 110 and flowsupward by the operation of the blower fan 134.

The cooling air flows into the cooling-air passage 230 through theblower unit 130 in the same way as that described with reference to FIG.7. Thus, a description thereof will not be repeated.

In the cooling-air passage 230, the cooling air is guided to thecooling-air distribution device 140. To supply the cooling air to therefrigerator compartment 40, the cooling-air distribution device 140 isin an opened state. At least a part of the cooling air flowing in thecooling-air passage 230 is discharged to the cooling-air outlet 232through the cooling-air distribution device 140.

Then, the cooling air is supplied into the refrigerator compartment 40from the cooling-air outlet 232 to cool the inside of the refrigeratorcompartment 40. After the cooling air flows throughout the refrigeratorcompartment 40, the cooling air is introduced again into the barrier 100through the cooling-air inlet 212, and then the cooling air exchangesheat with the evaporator 110.

Hereinafter, second and third embodiments will be explained. The secondand third embodiments are the same as the first embodiment except forthe inner structure of the barrier. Thus, the difference will be mainlyexplained, and the same elements as the first embodiments will bedenoted by the same reference numerals. Descriptions of the sameelements will not be repeated.

FIG. 9 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating a barrieraccording to a second embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a sectional viewillustrating the barrier according to the second embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a barrier 100 of the second embodimentincludes a barrier main body 101 by which a freezer compartment 30 and arefrigerator compartment 40 is separated, a concave part 600 formed byrecessing at least a part of the barrier 100, and an insulator 500disposed in the concave part 600.

The barrier main body 101 includes a first case 170 facing therefrigerator compartment 40, a second case 180 facing the freezercompartment 30, and an insulator part 630 filled between the first case170 and the second case 180.

The concave part 600 is formed by recessing at least a part of thesecond case 180, and the bottom surface of the concave part 600 forms aside surface of the first case 170.

The insulator part 630 is disposed in the barrier main body 101 aroundthe concave part 600. That is, a part of the barrier main body 101 wherethe concave part 600 is not formed is constituted by the first case 170,the second case 180, and the insulator part 630.

The insulator 500 is coupled to a side of the first case 170. That is,the insulator 500 is coupled to the concave part 600.

In detail, the insulator 500 includes an evaporator accommodating part510 in which an evaporator 110 is accommodated, a blower unitaccommodating part 520 disposed above the evaporator accommodating part510 to receive a blower unit 130, and a cooling-air passage 530 to whichcooling air is blown from the blower unit 130.

The insulator 500 is thinner at the blower unit accommodating part 520than at the evaporator accommodating part 510 and the cooling-airpassage 530.

Owing to this structure, the insulator 500 can be sufficiently providedat the evaporator accommodating part 510 and the cooling-air passage530, and a sufficient cooling-air passage can be formed at the blowerunit accommodating part 520.

An inlet corresponding part 512 is disposed at a lower part of theinsulator 500 to allow an inflow of cooling air from the refrigeratorcompartment 40, and an outlet corresponding part 532 is formed to allowan outflow of cooling air from the cooling-air passage 530 to therefrigerator compartment 40.

The inlet corresponding part 512 is disposed at a position correspondingto a cooling-air inlet 212, and the outlet corresponding part 532 isdisposed at a position corresponding to a cooling-air outlet 232.

Referring to FIG. 10, a barrier cover 400 is brought into contact with aside of the insulator 500. Particularly, the barrier cover 400 may bebrought into contact with the insulator 500 at a position correspondingto the cooling-air passage 530.

In this case, since a gap between the concave part 600 and the barriercover 400 except for the cooling-air passage 530 can be insulated by theinsulator 500, reliable insulation may be guaranteed.

In this way, since the evaporator accommodating part 510, the blowerunit accommodating part 520, and the cooling-air passage 530 aredirectly formed in the insulator 500, reliable insulation can beguaranteed.

In addition, since the insulator 500 can be placed on an upper part ofthe first case 170 and coupled with the barrier cover 400, assembling ofthe insulator 500 may be easily performed.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a barrier according to athird embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 11, a barrier 100 of the third embodiment includes afirst case 170 facing a refrigerator compartment 40, a second case 180facing a freezer compartment 30, and an insulator disposed between thefirst case 170 and the second case 180.

The insulator includes a vacuum insulator 610 and a polyurethane foam620.

The vacuum insulator 610 includes a sealing part formed of a film havinga thermal deposition layer, and a core material disposed in the sealingpart. The core material may include an open cell rigid plastic foam oran inorganic substance such as inorganic fiber and inorganic powder.

The sealing part may be formed of a complex plastic laminate film andmay be securely fixed to the surface of the core material by thermaldeposition.

The vacuum insulator 610 may be attached to an inner side of the secondcase 180, and the polyurethane foam 620 may be filled between the vacuuminsulator 610 and the first case 170. Owing to the polyurethane foam620, the insulating performance of the insulator may be improved.

In this way, since the vacuum insulator 610 and the polyurethane foam620 are disposed in the barrier 100, the insulating performance of thebarrier 100 can be high although the inner space of the barrier 100 isnot enough.

Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment will now be described. Since thecurrent embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for aninner configuration of a barrier, different parts between the first andfourth embodiments will be described principally, and a description ofthe same parts thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a barrier accordingto the fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional viewillustrating the barrier.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a barrier 100 according to the currentembodiment includes a barrier main body 101 and a barrier cover 400. Afreezer compartment 30 and a refrigerator compartment 40 are separatedby the barrier main body 101. The barrier main body 101 extendsvertically in a cabinet 10, and an evaporator 110 and a blower unit 130are disposed in the barrier main body 101.

The barrier main body 101 includes cases which form inner sides of thefreezer compartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40. The casesinclude a first case 170 forming a side of the refrigerator compartment40 and a second case 180 forming a side of the freezer compartment 30.An insulator is disposed between the first case 170 and the second case180.

A concave part 200 is disposed in a freezer compartment side of thebarrier 100. The concave part 200 includes an evaporator accommodatingpart 210, a blower unit accommodating part 220, and a cooling-airpassage 230.

A cooling-air inlet 212 and an inlet grill 214 are disposed in the lowerportion of the barrier 100, and a cooling-air outlet 232 and an outletgrill 234 are disposed in the upper portion of the barrier 100, so thatcooling air in the refrigerator compartment 40 can circulate within thebarrier 100. A drain pan 120 for discharging defrosted water is disposedunder the evaporator 110.

The blower unit 130 including a motor 132, a blower fan 134, and ashroud 136 is disposed in the blower unit accommodating part 220. Theblower unit 130 may suck cooling air along a rotation shaft anddischarge the air in a radial direction, so as to discharge the airupward to the cooling-air passage 230.

The cooling-air passage 230 guides cooling air discharged from adischarge hole 139 of the shroud 136 to the refrigerator compartment 40and the freezer compartment 30, and extends up to the upper portion ofthe barrier 100.

The cooling-air passage 230 may be defined as a space between a barriercover 400 and a second case 180, and be formed by coupling the barriercover 400 to a portion of the second case 180.

A cooling-air distribution device 140 is provided to the cooling-airpassage 230 to correspond to the cooling-air outlet 232. In detail, thecooling-air distribution device 140 may be disposed between thecooling-air outlet 232 and upper outlets 411 to be described later.

The cooling-air distribution device 140 includes a damper member 142that is openable, and an actuator 145 that is driven to open and closethe damper member 142.

When the damper member 142 is opened, a portion of cooling air can bedischarged from the cooling-air passage 230 to the cooling-air outlet232, and be introduced to the refrigerator compartment 40. On thecontrary, when the damper member 142 is closed, cooling air guidedthrough the cooling-air passage 230 is not discharged to the cooling-airoutlet 232, and is discharged only to the freezer compartment 30.

The barrier cover 400 is disposed at a side of the concave part 200. Thebarrier cover 400 constitutes the barrier 100 to cover the concave part200. The barrier cover 400 may have a plate shape to correspond to thesize of the concave part 200, and be divided into an upper plate and alower plate.

A plurality of cover outlets 411, 415, and 419 are disposed in the upperportion of the barrier cover 400 to correspond to the cooling-airpassage 230. The cover outlets 411, 415, and 419 may be spacedpredetermined distances from one another. Cooling air flowing throughthe cooling-air passage 230 may be introduced to the freezer compartment30 through the cover outlets 411, 415, and 419.

The cover outlets 411, 415, and 419 include: the upper outlets 411disposed at the upper end of the barrier cover 400 and facing thecooling-air outlet 232; a plurality of middle outlets (also denoted by415) disposed under the upper outlets 411 and spaced apart therefrom;and a plurality of lower outlets (also denoted by 419) disposed underthe middle outlets 415 and spaced apart therefrom,

The middle outlets 415 and the lower outlets 419 include a plurality ofoutlets that are spaced apart from one another at the front and rearsides of the barrier cover 400.

For convenience in description, the upper, middle, and lower outlets411, 415, and 419 are called first, second, and third outlets,respectively.

Hereinafter, a configuration of cover inlets 430 and the cover outlets411, 415, and 419 will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14′ of FIG. 12. FIG. 15is a sectional view taken along line 15-15′ of FIG. 12. FIG. 16 is asectional view taken along line 16-16′ of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 14, the upper outlet 411 includes: a first outlet hole413 for discharging cooling air from the inside of the barrier 100 tothe freezer compartment 30; and first guide ribs 412 for guiding thecooling air discharged from the first outlet hole 413 to the lowerportion of the freezer compartment 30.

In detail, the first guide ribs 412 include a plurality of ribs that arevertically spaced apart from one another within the first outlet hole413. The first guide ribs 412 are inclined downward or rounded to bedirected to the front side of the barrier cover 400.

Thus, while being discharged from the first outlet hole 413, cooling aircan flow to the lateral and rear sides of the freezer compartment 30. Assuch, since cooling air is discharged downward from the upper outlets411, the cooling air can efficiently circulate within the freezercompartment 30.

Alternatively, at least one part of the first guide ribs 412 may beinclined forward, and the other part may be inclined rearward. That is,the first guide ribs 412 may be configured as second guide ribs 416 andthird guide ribs 417, which will be described later.

In this case, cooling air discharged from the first outlet hole 413 canflow to the front and rear sides of the freezer compartment 30.

Referring to FIG. 15, the middle outlets 415 include a second outlethole 418 a disposed in the rear portion of the barrier cover 400, andthe second guide ribs 416 disposed within the second outlet hole 418 a.

In detail, the second guide ribs 416 include a plurality of ribs thatare horizontally spaced apart from one another within the second outlethole 418 a. The second guide ribs 416 are round to be directed to therear side of the barrier cover 400. Thus, while being discharged fromthe second outlet hole 418 a, cooling air can flow to the rear side ofthe freezer compartment 30.

The middle outlet 415 includes a third outlet hole 418 b spaced forwardfrom the second outlet hole 418 a, and the third guide ribs 417 disposedwithin the third outlet hole 418 b.

In detail, the third guide ribs 417 include a plurality of ribs that arelaterally spaced apart from one another within the third outlet hole 418b. The third guide ribs 417 are round to be directed to the front sideof the barrier cover 400. Thus, while being discharged from the thirdoutlet hole 418 b, cooling air can flow to the front side of the freezercompartment 30.

As such, since the second guide ribs 416 are inclined rearward and thethird guide ribs 417 are inclined forward, cooling air discharged fromthe middle outlet 415 can be uniformly dispersed to the freezercompartment 30.

Since an inner structure of the lower outlets 419 is the same as that ofthe middle outlets 415, a description thereof will be omitted.

As a result, cooling air discharged from the upper outlets 411 can flowto the lateral lower side of the freezer compartment 30, and cooling airdischarged from the middle outlets 415 and the lower outlets 419 canflow to the front and rear sides of the freezer compartment 30. Thus,cooling air can uniformly flow within the entire space of the freezercompartment 30.

Since the cooling air discharged from the cover outlets 411, 415, and419 has a lower temperature that that of the cooling air existing withinthe freezer compartment 30, the cooling air discharged from the coveroutlets 411, 415, and 419 can flow down to the lower portion of thefreezer compartment 30.

Referring to FIG. 16, the cover inlet 430 includes an inlet hole 434through which cooling air discharged from the freezer compartment 30flows to the inside of the barrier 100, that is, to the evaporator 110,and inlet guides 432 disposed within the inlet hole 434 to guide a flowof cooling air.

In detail, the inlet guides 432 include a plurality of ribs that arevertically spaced apart from each other within the inlet hole 434. Theinlet guides 432 are round to be directed to the upper side of thebarrier cover 400. Thus, while cooling air is introduced to the barrier100 through the inlet hole 434, the cooling air can flow to the upperside of the barrier 100.

Since the evaporator 110 is disposed at the upper side of the inlet hole434, the cooling air introduced into the barrier 100 can efficientlyflow to the evaporator 110. That is, when suction force is applied tothe inlet hole 434 while a fan motor assembly (also denoted by 130) isdriven, cooling air is smoothly guided from the freezer compartment 30to the evaporator 110, thereby reducing a flow loss of the cooling air.

As described above, the cooling air discharged from the cover outlets411, 415, and 419 may uniformly cool the freezer compartment 30 and movedownward, and be guided to the evaporator 110 through the cover inlets430. As a result, cooling air can effectively circulate within thebarrier 100 and the freezer compartment 30.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a cooling air flow state of the barrierobserved from a refrigerator compartment side. FIG. 18 is a sectionalview taken along line 18-18′ of FIG. 17.

A state where cooling air is supplied to the refrigerator compartment 40will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18.

When the blower fan 134 is driven, cooling air is introduced from thefreezer compartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40 into thebarrier 100 through the cover inlets 430 and the cooling-air inlet 212.The cooling air exchanges heat in the evaporator 110, and is movedupward according to the driving of the blower fan 134.

Since a process that the cooling air flows to the cooling-air passage230 through the blower unit 130 is the same as that illustrated in FIG.10, a description thereof will be omitted.

The cooling air guided through the cooling-air passage 230 is suppliedup to the damper member 142 at the upper end of the cooling-air passage230. When the cooling air is supplied to the refrigerator compartment40, the damper member 142 is opened. At least one portion of the coolingair flowing through the cooling-air passage 230 is discharged to thecooling-air outlet 232 through the cooling-air distribution device 140.

The cooling air supplied into the refrigerator compartment 40 throughthe cooling-air outlet 232 cools the inside of the refrigeratorcompartment 40. The cooling air circulating within the refrigeratorcompartment 40 is introduced into the barrier 100 through thecooling-air inlet 212, and can exchange heat.

The outlet grill 234 includes a refrigerator compartment outlet hole 238for discharging cooling air, and a plurality of guide ribs for guiding aflow direction of discharged cooling air.

The guide ribs include a central guide 235 vertically disposed in anapproximately central portion of the refrigerator compartment outlethole 238, and a plurality of lateral guides spaced apart from thecentral guide 235 to lateral sides of the outlet grill 234. The lateralguides are inclined from a vertical line.

The lateral guides include first lateral guides 236 adjacent to thecentral guide 235, and second lateral guides 237 spaced apart from thefirst lateral guides 236 to lateral ends of the outlet grill 234.

An inclination angle β of the first lateral guides 236 from the verticalline is smaller than an inclination angle α of the second lateral guides237 from the vertical line. That is, an inclination angle of the lateralguides gradually increases from the central guide 235 to the lateralends.

In this case, cooling air guided by the lateral guides can be uniformlydischarged to the front and rear portions of the refrigeratorcompartment 40.

Cooling air guided by the central guide 235 is discharged to a lateralsurface of the refrigerator compartment 40, and cooling air guided bythe first and second lateral guides 236 and 237 is discharged to thefront and rear portions of the refrigerator compartment 40.

Although not shown, a configuration of the inlet grill 214 maycorrespond to that of the outlet grill 234. That is, the inlet grill 214may include a central guide and lateral guides to introduce cooling airfrom the front, rear, and lateral portions of the refrigeratorcompartment 40.

Alternatively, the inlet grill 214 may have the same configuration asthat of the cover inlets 430.

As described above, since cooling air discharged to the refrigeratorcompartment 40 can be uniformly dispersed in a storage space of therefrigerator compartment 40, the cooling effect thereof can be improved.

Although the outlet grill 234 and the cover outlets 411, 415, and 419are different in configuration from one another in the currentembodiment, the outlet grill 234 may have the configuration of one ofthe cover outlets 411, 415, and 419, or the cover outlets 411, 415, and419 may have the configuration of the outlet grill 234.

For convenience in description, the outlet grill 234 and the coveroutlets 411, 415, and 419 may be referred to as a ‘cooling-air dischargepart’, and the cover inlets 430 and the cooling-air inlet 212 may bereferred to as a ‘cooling-air introduction part’.

Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment will now be described. Since the currentembodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for an innerconfiguration of a barrier, different parts between the first and fifthembodiments will be described principally, and a description of the sameparts thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a barrier accordingto the fifth embodiment. FIG. 20 is a vertical sectional viewillustrating the barrier. FIG. 21 is an enlarged view illustrating aregion A of FIG. 20.

Referring to FIGS. 19 to 21, inner cases 150 defining a freezercompartment 30 and a refrigerator compartment 40 are disposed in bothside surfaces of a barrier 100, respectively. For convenience indescription, an inner case defining the freezer compartment 30 isreferred to as a first inner case 101, and an inner case defining therefrigerator compartment 40 is referred to as a second inner case 103. Afront plate 105 forms the front surface of the barrier 100. The frontplate 105 may be fixed to the front ends of the first and second cases101 and 103. An inner space of the barrier 100, that is, a space betweenthe front plate 105 and the first and second cases 101 and 103 may befilled with a foaming agent to form an insulation layer 300. Theinsulation layer 300 uniformly fills the entire inner space of thebarrier 100.

A concave part 200 is disposed in a surface of the barrier 100, that is,in a surface adjacent to the freezer compartment 30 in the currentembodiment. The concave part 200 is formed by partially recessing thesurface of the barrier 100. Substantially, the concave part 200 may beformed by partially recessing the first inner case 101 to therefrigerator compartment 40. The concave part 200 accommodates anevaporator 110 and a blower unit 130, which will be described later.

In more detail, the concave part 200 includes an evaporatoraccommodating part 210, a blower unit accommodating part 220, and acooling-air passage 230. The evaporator accommodating part 210accommodates the evaporator 110, and the blower unit accommodating part220 accommodates the blower unit 130. Cooling air to be supplied to thefreezer compartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40 flows throughthe cooling-air passage 230.

A cooling-air inlet 212 is disposed in the lower portion of the barrier100, and an inlet grill 214 is installed on the cooling-air inlet 212. Acooling-air outlet 232 is disposed in the upper portion of the barrier100, and an outlet grill 234 is installed on the cooling-air outlet 232.Thus, cooling air can circulate in the refrigerator compartment 40 andthe barrier 100.

A plurality of first coupling rib seat parts 216 are disposed inportions of the barrier 100, that is, in portions of the first innercase 101 adjacent to the evaporator accommodating part 210. Firstcoupling ribs 416 to be described later are seated on the first couplingrib seat parts 216. A portion of the barrier 100, that is, a portion ofthe first inner case 101 adjacent to the evaporator accommodating part210 is recessed to the refrigerator compartment 40 to form the firstcoupling rib seat part 216. A plurality of first coupling holes 217 aredisposed in the first coupling rib seat parts 216. The first couplingholes 217 are coupled with first coupling pieces (not shown) for fixinga lower cover 401 to be described later.

The blower unit accommodating part 220 is disposed in the centralportion of the concave part 200 to correspond to the upper side of theevaporator accommodating part 210. Substantially, the blower unitaccommodating part 220 provides a space for accommodating the blowerunit 130 and connects the evaporator accommodating part 210 to thecooling-air passage 230 to discharge cooling air from the evaporatoraccommodating part 210 to the cooling-air passage 230.

Cooling-air guide parts 222 are disposed at both sides of the blowerunit accommodating part 220. Cooling air guided from the evaporatoraccommodating part 210 to the blower unit accommodating part 220 isguided to a shroud 136 to be described later by the cooling-air guideparts 222. In the current embodiment, the width of the blower unitaccommodating part 220 gradually decreases upward to form thecooling-air guide parts 222. For example, the lower end of the blowerunit accommodating part 220 may have the same width as that of the upperend of the evaporator accommodating part 210, and the upper end of theblower unit accommodating part 220 may have the same width as that ofthe lower end of the cooling-air passage 230, so as to form thecooling-air guide parts 222. In this case, the cooling-air guide parts222 may be inclined at a preset angle, or be round with a presetcurvature.

The cooling-air passage 230 is disposed in the upper portion of theconcave part 200 to correspond to the upper side of the blower unitaccommodating part 220. Cooling air sucked into the concave part 200through the cooling-air inlet 212 and cover inlets 430 to be describedlater, substantially, cooling air sucked into the evaporatoraccommodating part 210 and exchanging heat with the evaporator 110 isguided to the freezer compartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40by the cooling-air passage 230. To this end, the cooling-air passage 230extends from the upper end of the blower unit accommodating part 220 tothe upper end of the barrier 100.

A barrier cover 400 to be described later covers the cooling-air passage230 to substantially form a cooling-air passage through which coolingair flows. The cooling-air outlet 232 is disposed at the upper end ofthe cooling-air passage 230. Substantially, the cooling-air outlet 232is formed by partially cutting the second inner case 103. Thecooling-air outlet 232 functions as an outlet for discharging coolingair to the refrigerator compartment 40. The outlet grill 234 may beinstalled on the cooling-air outlet 232 to guide the direction ofcooling air discharged to the refrigerator compartment 40.

A plurality of second coupling rib seat parts 244 and a plurality ofsecond coupling rib seat parts 236 are disposed in a side of the barrier100, that is, in portions of the first inner case 101 adjacent to theblower unit accommodating part 220 and the cooling-air passage 230. Theportions of the first inner case 101 adjacent to the blower unitaccommodating part 220 and the cooling-air passage 230 are partiallyrecessed to form the second coupling rib seat parts 244 and 236. Secondcoupling holes 245 are disposed in the second coupling rib seat parts244, and second coupling holes 237 are disposed in the second couplingrib seat parts 236. The second coupling holes 245 and 237 are coupledwith second coupling pieces (not shown) for fixing an upper cover 402 tobe described later.

In the current embodiment, the depth of the blower unit accommodatingpart 220 is greater than those of the evaporator accommodating part 210and the cooling-air passage 230. In other words, a portion of theconcave part 200 corresponding to the blower unit accommodating part 220is further recessed than the rest of the concave part 200 correspondingto the evaporator accommodating part 210 and the cooling-air passage230. Thus, the thickness of the insulation layer 300 is substantiallygreater in inner portions of the barrier 100 corresponding to theevaporator accommodating part 210 and the cooling-air passage 230 thanin an inner portion of the barrier 100 corresponding to the blower unitaccommodating part 220.

Thus, an insulating performance of the evaporator accommodating part 210in which the evaporator 110 having a relatively low temperature isdisposed can be ensured, and cooling air can flow through the evaporatoraccommodating part 210, the blower unit accommodating part 220, and thecooling-air passage 230. In other words, a thickness of the insulationlayer 300 corresponding to the evaporator accommodating part 210 inwhich the evaporator 110 having a relatively low temperature is disposedis relatively increased to ensure that the barrier 100 insulates thespace between the freezer compartment 30 and the refrigeratorcompartment 40 and efficiently prevent a heat exchange between theevaporator accommodating part 210 and both the freezer compartment 30and the refrigerator compartment 40, especially, prevent a heat exchangebetween the evaporator accommodating part 210 and the refrigeratorcompartment 40. In addition, substantially, cooling air can flow througha gap between the upper end of the evaporator accommodating part 210 andthe lower end of the blower unit accommodating part 220, and a gapbetween the lower end of the cooling-air passage 230 and the upper endof the blower unit accommodating part 220.

An inclination guide surface 240 is disposed between the evaporatoraccommodating part 210 and the blower unit accommodating part 220. Theinclination guide surface 240 compensates for the thickness differenceof the insulation layer 300 between the evaporator accommodating part210 and the blower unit accommodating part 220 as described above, so asto prevent a stepped part from being formed between the evaporatoraccommodating part 210 and the blower unit accommodating part 220. Thus,the inclination guide surface 240 may be inclined from the upper end ofthe evaporator accommodating part 210 to the lower end of the blowerunit accommodating part 220.

The concave part 200 is covered with the barrier cover 400. The barriercover 400 may include a plate that has a predetermined shape and apredetermined size, that is, has a shape and a size to cover the concavepart 200. Substantially, it may be considered that the barrier cover 400is coupled to the first inner case 101 to form a side surface of thefreezer compartment 30. For example, a surface of the barrier cover 400exposed to the freezer compartment 30 may be substantially flush withthe rest of the first inner case 101 except for the concave part 200.

In the current embodiment, the barrier cover 400 includes the lowercover 401 and the upper cover 402. The lower cover 401 covers theevaporator accommodating part 210. The upper cover 402 covers the blowerunit accommodating part 220 and the cooling-air passage 230.Alternatively, the barrier cover 400 may be provided in the form of asingle member. Alternatively, the barrier cover 400 may be constitutedby two or more parts, considering the size of the concave part 200 and aservice such as a repair and a replacement of parts.

A mounting guide 420 is disposed on an inner surface of the lower cover401. The mounting guide 420 supports the evaporator 110. The lower cover401 includes the cover inlet 430. The cover inlets 430 function asinlets through which cooling air is sucked from the freezer compartment30 to the evaporator accommodating part 210.

The lower cover 401 includes the first coupling ribs 416. When the lowercover 401 covers the evaporator accommodating part 210, the firstcoupling ribs 416 are seated on the first coupling rib seat parts 216.The first coupling ribs 416 have third through holes 417, respectively.The first coupling pieces, coupled to the first coupling holes 217 forfixing the lower cover 401 to the barrier 100, pass through the thirdthrough holes 417.

The upper cover 402 includes cover outlets 410. The cover outlets 410functions as outlets for discharging cooling air to the freezercompartment 30. The cover outlets 410 are formed by partially cuttingthe upper cover 402 to correspond to the cooling-air passage 230.

The upper cover 402 includes second coupling ribs 424. When the uppercover 402 covers the blower unit accommodating part 220 and thecooling-air passage 230, the second coupling ribs 424 are seated on thesecond coupling rib seat parts 244 and 236. The second coupling ribs 424have second through holes 425, respectively. The second coupling pieces,coupled to the second coupling holes 245 and 237, pass through thesecond through holes 425.

A first sealing member 418 and a second sealing member 426 are disposedon a border of the lower cover 401 and a border of the upper cover 402,respectively. The first and second sealing members 418 and 426 preventcooling air from leaking out of the concave part 200, that is, to thefreezer compartment 30. To this end, the first and second sealingmembers 418 and 426 substantially seal a gap between the lower cover 401and the barrier 100, a gap between the upper cover 402 and the barrier100, and a gap between the lower cover 401 and the upper cover 402, thatis, a gap between the upper end of the lower cover 401 and the lower endof the upper cover 402.

The evaporator accommodating part 210 accommodates the evaporator 110.The evaporator 110 has a shape and a size to be accommodated by theevaporator accommodating part 210. For example, the evaporator 110includes a refrigerant tube 112 having a serpentine shape, a pluralityof fins 114 through which the refrigerant tube 112 passes, and two heads116 supporting the refrigerant tube 112. The refrigerant tube 112 mayhave the same distance from both ends of the fins 114. For example, theevaporator 110 may be a multi flow type condenser including arefrigerant tube between headers disposed at both sides.

A drain pan 120 is installed on the evaporator accommodating part 210 todischarge defrosted water generated from the evaporator 110 in andefrosting operation to the outside of the barrier 100, particularly, toa machine room.

The blower unit 130 including a motor 132, a blower fan 134, and ashroud 136 is installed within the blower unit accommodating part 220.Thus, air can be introduced into the barrier 100 from the freezercompartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40, and exchange heat,and then, be discharged to the freezer compartment 30 and therefrigerator compartment 40.

A cooling-air distribution device 140 is provided to the cooling-airpassage 230 to control the amount of cooling air discharged to therefrigerator compartment 40 through the cooling-air outlet 232.

Referring to FIG. 21, a catch slot 218 and a catch hook 117 are providedto the evaporator accommodating part 210 and the evaporator 110,respectively, to fix the evaporator 110 to the evaporator accommodatingpart 210. That is, the catch slot 218 is disposed in a surface of theevaporator accommodating part 210. The catch hook 117 is provided to theevaporator 110, as described above. In the current embodiment, the catchslot 218 is provided in duplicate, and the catch hook 117 is alsoprovided in duplicate, but the number thereof is not limited thereto.

In more detail, a portion of the first inner case 101 forming a surfaceof the evaporator accommodating part 210 is cut in a vertical elongatedshape to form the catch slot 218. A sealing tape 219 is attached to aninner surface of the barrier 100 corresponding to the catch slot 218,that is, to an inner surface of the first inner case 101. The sealingtape 219 prevents the foaming agent forming the insulation layer 300from leaking through the catch slot 218.

The catch hook 117 extends from a surface of the evaporator 110.Although the catch hook 117 extends substantially from the upper end ofthe head 116 in the current embodiment, the catch hook 117 may be fixedas a separate part to the head 116.

The catch hook 117 has an approximately L shape, as a whole. In moredetail, the catch hook 117 includes an extension part 118 and a catchpart 119. The extension part 118 extends approximately in the horizontaldirection from a surface of the evaporator 110. The catch part 119extends downward from the front end of the extension part 118. In thiscase, the length of the catch part 119 is smaller than that of the catchslot 218. Thus, the catch part 119 can pass through the catch slot 218.In the state where the catch hook 117, that is, the extension part 118and the catch part 119 pass through the catch slot 218, when theevaporator 110 moves downward because of its weight, the catch part 119is caught to the catch slot 218 to fix the evaporator 110. At thispoint, the sealing tape 219 is torn by the catch part 119.

FIGS. 22 to 24 are views for explaining processes of fixing anevaporator of a refrigerator according to the fifth embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 22, a sealing tape 219 is attached to a back surfaceof a first inner case 101. Here, the sealing tape 219 has aconfiguration and size enough to shield a catch slot 218. Also, thesealing tape 219 is attached to the back surface of the first inner case101 corresponding to the catch slot 218.

Referring to FIG. 23, the first inner case 101 and a second inner case103 are coupled to each other to form a barrier 100. A foaming agent isinjected into the barrier 100. Thus, the foaming liquid injected intothe barrier 100 is solidified to form an insulation layer 300.

Referring to FIG. 24, an evaporator 110 is received into an evaporatoraccommodating part 210. Here, the evaporator 110 is moved to allow acatch hook 117 to pass through the catch slot 218. Thus, the catch hook117, i.e., an extension part 118 and a catch part 119 tears the sealingtape 219

An external force applied to the evaporator 110 is removed. Thus, sincethe evaporator 110 is moved downward by its self-weight, the catch hook117 is caught on the catch slot 218. (See FIG. 5)

As described above, the evaporator 110 is received into the evaporatoraccommodating part 210, the evaporator 110 is substantially furtherspaced from a refrigerator compartment 40 when compared to a freezercompartment 30. That is to say, since the insulation layer 300 betweenthe refrigerator compartment 40 and the evaporator accommodating part210 is relatively thicker than that of the insulator layer 300 betweenthe freezer compartment 30 and the evaporator accommodating part 210,insulation performance between the refrigerator compartment 40 and theevaporator accommodating part 210 may be secured. Thus, heat exchangebetween the evaporator accommodating part 210 and the refrigeratorcompartment 40 having a relatively high temperature than that of theevaporator accommodating part 210 may be further efficiently prevented.That is, it may prevent a temperature within the refrigeratorcompartment 40 having the relatively high temperature than that of theevaporator accommodating part 210 from being decreased bylow-temperature cooling air flowing into the evaporator 110. Summarily,an effect of the evaporator 110 with respect to the refrigeratorcompartment 40 may be minimized to substantially prevent productsreceived in the refrigerator compartment 40 from being over-cooled.

The evaporator 110 may include other parts for mounting except theabove-described parts. Hereinafter, this will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings. Also, since other partsthat are not shown in drawings are equal to those of the foregoing fifthembodiment, their detail descriptions will be omitted.

FIGS. 25 to 27 are sectional view illustrating another structure fordisposing the evaporator.

Referring to FIG. 25, in the current embodiment, a plurality of catchspaces 710 is defined in a first inner case 101 corresponding to aninner surface of an evaporator accommodating part 210. A portion of theinner surface of the evaporator accommodating part 210, i.e., a portionof the first inner case 101 may be recessed to define the catch spaces710. Alternatively, the catch space 710 may be separately defined by amember fixed to a back surface of the first inner case 101.

In detail, the catch space 710 includes an entrance part 712 and a catchgroove 716.

An entrance hole 714 horizontally communicating with the evaporatoraccommodating part 210 is defined in the entrance part 712. The catchgroove 716 is disposed under the entrance part 712. Substantially, abottom surface of the entrance part 712 may be recessed downward todefine the catch groove 716. The catch groove 716 verticallycommunicates with the entrance part 712, but does not communicate withthe evaporator accommodating part 210.

A catch hook 117 is disposed in the evaporator 110. The catch hook 117includes an extension part 118 and a catch part 119. The catch hook 117may be substantially same as that of the first embodiment. However, inthe current embodiment, the catch hook 117, i.e., the catch part 119 maybe substantially have a length less than that of the entrance hole 714.

In the current embodiment, when the evaporator is moved downward by itsself-weight in a state where the catch hook 117 passes through theentrance hole 714 and is disposed inside the catch space 710, i.e., theentrance part 712, the catch part 119 is substantially caught in thecatch groove 716. Thus, the evaporator 110 is fixed to the evaporatoraccommodating part 210 in a state where it is accommodated in theevaporator accommodating part 210.

Also, in the current embodiment, since the catch slot 218 (see FIG. 21)according to the first embodiment is substantially omitted, a portion ofthe first inner case 101 defining the evaporator accommodating part 210is not cut. Thus, according to the current embodiment, it may certainlyprevent a foaming agent from leaking through the catch slot 218. Also,according to the current embodiment, a member such as a sealing tape 219(see FIG. 21) for shielding the catch slot 218 and a process for fixingthe member may be omitted.

The evaporator 110 may include other parts for mounting except theabove-described parts. Hereinafter, this will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings. Also, since other partsthat are not shown in drawings are equal to those of the foregoing fifthembodiment, their detail descriptions will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 26, in the current embodiment, a through opening 730is defined in a first inner case 101 defining an evaporatoraccommodating part 210. A fixing boss 732 is installed in the throughopening 730. Substantially, one end of the fixing boss 732 is disposedinside the evaporator accommodating part 210 and the other end of thefixing boss 732 is disposed inside a barrier 100 in a state where thefixing boss 732 passes through the through opening 730.

A coupling groove 734 is defined in the fixing boss 732. The couplinggroove 734 is longitudinally defined in a length direction of the fixingboss 732, i.e., a horizontal direction. Here, the coupling groove 734extends from the one end of the fixing boss 732 disposed inside theevaporator accommodating part 210 to the inside of the fixing boss 732.

Also, a catch protrusion 736 is disposed on the one end of the fixingboss 732 disposed inside an insulation layer 300 with respect to thethrough opening 730. The catch protrusion 736 extends from an outersurface of the fixing boss 732 to the outside. In a state where thefixing boss 732 passes through the through opening 730, the catchprotrusion 736 is caught on a back surface of the first inner case 101adjacent to the through opening 730. Thus, it may prevent the fixingboss 732 from being separated from the through opening 730.

A fixing rib 747 is disposed on the evaporator 110. For example, anupper end of a head 116 may be cut and bent with respect to the restportion of the head 116 to form the fixing rib 747. Here, the fixing rib747 contacts the first inner case 101. An insertion hole 748 is definedin the fixing rib 747. The one end of the fixing boss 732 disposedinside the evaporator accommodating part 210 is inserted into theinsertion hole 748.

A coupling piece 750 is coupled to the coupling groove 734. In detail,the coupling piece 750 is coupled to the coupling groove 734 in a statewhere the one end of the fixing boss 732 is inserted into the insertionhole 748. Here, a head part 752 of the coupling piece 750 has a sizeenough to allow at least portion thereof is closely attached to thefixing rib 747 in a state where the coupling piece 750 is coupled to thecoupling groove 734. That is, the head part 752 may have a size greaterthan that of the coupling groove 734. Thus, when the coupling piece 750is coupled to the coupling groove 734, the evaporator 110 may be fixedinside the evaporator accommodating part 210, i.e., to the fixing boss732.

The evaporator 110 may include other parts for mounting except theabove-described parts. Hereinafter, this will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings. Also, since other partsthat are not shown in drawings are equal to those of the foregoing fifthembodiment, their detail descriptions will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 27, in the current embodiment, an evaporator 770includes refrigerant tubes 772 having a serpentine shape and a pluralityof fins 774 through which the refrigerant tubes 772 are inserted. Theevaporator 770 may have the same configuration as those of the foregoingfirst to third embodiments. However, in the current embodiment, therefrigerant tubes 772 are further spaced from the other end of the fin774 adjacent to a refrigerator compartment 40 when compared to an end ofthe fin 774 adjacent to a freezer compartment 30 with respect to animaginary line X vertically passing through the center of the fin 774 ina state where the evaporator 770 is accommodated in the evaporatoraccommodating part 210. Thus, the refrigerant tubes 772 in which asubstantially low temperature refrigerant flows may be further spacedfrom the refrigerator compartment 40 than from the freezer compartment30.

Since the refrigerant tube 772 is further spaced from the refrigeratorcompartment 40 than the freezer compartment 30, the refrigeratorcompartment 40 having a relatively high temperature than that of thefreezer compartment 30 is further spaced from the evaporator 770, i.e.,the low temperature refrigerant flowing into the evaporator 770. Thus,it may prevent the refrigerator compartment 40 from being over-cooled bya temperature decrease therein due to an influence of the lowtemperature refrigerant flowing into the evaporator 770.

Hereinafter, a sixth embodiment will be described. Since the currentembodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for a portion ofan inner configuration of a barrier, different parts between the firstand sixth embodiments will be described principally, and a descriptionof the same parts thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 28 is a schematic view illustrating a refrigerant cycle of arefrigerator according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 29 is an explodedperspective view illustrating a barrier according to the embodiment.FIG. 30 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the barrier.

Referring to FIGS. 28 to 30, a refrigerant cycle according to thecurrent embodiment may be performed by a compressor 50, a condenser 60,an expansion unit 70, and evaporator 110.

The compressor 50 is connected to the condenser 60 by a connection tube52. A bypass tube 90 for bypassing a high temperature refrigerantcompressed by the compressor 50 toward a discharge tube 72 of theexpansion unit 70 is connected to the connection tube 52. The bypasstube 90 and the connection tube 52 are connected to a valve 92. Thevalve 92 may be a three-way valve. Alternatively, valves may be disposedon the connection tube 52 and the bypass tube 90, respectively.

When a refrigerator is operated in a normal mode, the valve 92 maycontrol a flow direction of a refrigerant so that the refrigerantdischarged from the compressor 50 flows into the condenser 60. When therefrigerator is operated in a defrosting mode, the valve 92 may controla flow direction of the refrigerant so that the refrigerant dischargedfrom the compressor 50 flows into the bypass tube 90. Alternatively,when the refrigerator is operated in the defrosting mode, the valve 92may control a flow direction of the refrigerant so that the refrigerantdischarged from the compressor 50 flows into the condenser 60 and thebypass tube 90.

A depression part 94 for depressing the refrigerant may be disposed onthe bypass tube 90. The expansion unit 70 and the depression part 94 maybe one of a capillary tube or an openable electronic expansion valve.

The discharge tube 72 of the expansion unit 70 is connected to a valve80. The valve 80 may be a three-way valve. The valve 80 is connected toa first tube 111 and a second tube 112, which constitute the evaporator110. The valve 80 controls a flow direction of the refrigerant so thatthe refrigerant flows into one of the first tube 111 and the second tube112 or flows into the first and second tubes 111 and 112 at the sametime. Alternatively, valves may be disposed on the first and secondtubes 111 and 112, respectively.

The first tube 111 and the second tube 112 are combined with each otherat an inlet side of the compressor 50. Also, the evaporator 110 includesa plurality of heat exchange fins 115 through which both the first andsecond tubes 111 and 112 are inserted. That is, both the first andsecond tubes 111 and 112 are inserted through each of the heat exchangefins 115. The evaporator 110 is mounted on a barrier 100. In the currentembodiment, each of the tubes 111 and 112 may be a circular-shaped tubeor a micro channel tube in which a plurality of refrigerant passages isdefined.

Hereinafter, a structure of the barrier will be described in detail.

The barrier 100 partitions an inner space a refrigerator compartment 40and a freezer compartment 30. Also, the barrier 100 may be insulated byan insulator filled into a casing defining an outer appearance thereof.The casing of the barrier 100 may be formed by in-cases defining theinsides of the refrigerator compartment 40 and the freezer compartment30. Alternatively, the barrier 100 may be formed by a separate member.

A concave part 200 is disposed in a lateral surface (a left side surfacewhen viewed in FIG. 4) of the barrier 100 defining a sidewall of thefreezer compartment 30. The concave part 200 includes an evaporatoraccommodating part 210, a flower unit accommodating part 220, and acooling-air passage 230.

The evaporator 110 is accommodated in the evaporator accommodating part210. When viewed in FIG. 30, the first and second tubes 111 and 112constituting the evaporator 110 are disposed in left and rightdirections (left and right directions of the refrigerator). Each of thetubes 111 and 112 is bent several times and is vertically disposed. Thefirst tube 111 is disposed adjacent to the freezer compartment 30 thanthe second tube 112.

A plurality of mounting structures 113 for mounting the evaporator 110on an inner case 151 defining the freezer compartment 30 is disposed inthe evaporator 110. A catch hook 117 coupled to a catch slot 218 isdisposed at an upper portion of each of the mounting structures 113. Acover part 216 for covering the catch slot 218 is disposed inside thebarrier 100.

A cooling-air inlet 212 and an inlet grill 214 through which cooling airwithin the refrigerator compartment 40 is introduced are defined in alower portion of the barrier 100. A cooling-air outlet 232 and an outletgrill 234 through which cooling air is supplied into the refrigeratorcompartment 40 are defined in an upper portion of the barrier 100.

A drain pan 120 for discharging defrosted water or condensed watergenerated during an defrosting operation from the inside of the barrier100 toward a machine room may be disposed under the evaporator 110.

A blower unit 130 including a motor 132, a blower fan 134, and a shroud136 is accommodated into an upper side of the evaporator accommodatingpart 210. The blower unit 130 is operated to allow cooling air withinthe freezer compartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40 to beintroduced into the barrier 100, thereby heat-exchanging between thefreezer compartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40.

A cooling-air passage 230 is defined above the blower unit accommodatingpart 220. The cooling-air passage 230 guides cooling air discharged fromthe shroud 136 to the refrigerator compartment 40 and the freezercompartment 30. A cooling-air distribution device 140 is disposed in thecooling-air passage 230.

The concave part 200 is covered by a barrier cover 400. The barriercover 400 may be manufactured into a single board or a plurality ofboards. A plurality of cover outlets 410 for discharging the cooling airinto the freezer compartment 30 is defined in an upper portion of thebarrier cover 400. A cover inlet 430 for introducing the cooling airwithin the freezer compartment 30 into the evaporator accommodating part210 is disposed in a lower portion of the barrier cover 400.

Hereinafter, an effect of the refrigerator according to the currentembodiment will be described.

When a power is applied to the refrigerator 1, the compressor 50 isoperated, and thus the refrigerant flows. Then, the blower fan 134 isrotated by an operation of the motor 132. The blower fan 134 is rotatedto introduce the cooling air within the freezer compartment 30 and thecooling air within the refrigerator compartment 40 into the evaporatoraccommodating part 210. When the refrigerator 1 is initially operated,since a temperature within each of the freezer compartment 30 and therefrigerator compartment 40 is lower than a set temperature, the coolingair is supplied into each of the freezer compartment 30 and therefrigerator compartment 40. Here, a cooling-air control devicecommunicates with the cooling-air passage 230 and the cooling-air outlet232 to supply the cooling air into the refrigerator compartment 40.

The valve 80 controls the passage so that the refrigerant flows into thefirst and second tubes 111 and 112.

The cooling air introduced into the evaporator accommodating part 210 ismoved upward after the cooling air exchanges heat with the evaporator110 while passing through the evaporator 110. The cooling air movedupward from the evaporator accommodating part 210 flows into the blowerunit accommodating part 220 along a connection part 240. Then, thecooling air is guided to the cooling-air passage 230. The cooling airguided to the cooling-air passage 230 is discharged into the freezercompartment 30 and the freezer compartment 40 through the outlets 232and 410.

A temperature within each of the freezer compartment 30 and therefrigerator compartment 40 is decreased by the cooling air dischargedinto the freezer compartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40.

When the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 40 reaches the settemperature, but the temperature of the freezer compartment 30 does notreach the set temperature during the supply of the cooling air into thefreezer compartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40, the supplyof the cooling air into the refrigerator compartment 40 is interrupted.

In detail, the cooling-air distribution device 140 interrupts thecommunication between the cooling-air outlet 232 and the cooling-airpassage 230. Thus, the cooling-air exchanging heat with the evaporator110 is supplied into only the freezer compartment 30.

Here, when the temperature of the freezer compartment 30 does not reachthe set temperature, the refrigerant flows into the first and secondtubes 111 and 112 regardless of whether the temperature of therefrigerator compartment 40 reaches the set temperature.

When the temperature of the freezer compartment 30 reaches the settemperature, but the temperature of refrigerator compartment 40 does notreach the set temperature during the supply of the cooling air into thefreezer compartment 30 and the refrigerator compartment 40, therefrigerant flows into only the first tube 111. That is, the valve 80controls the refrigerant passage so that the refrigerant flows into thefirst tube 111 and does not flow into the second tube 112.

Here, the cooling air exchanging heat with the evaporator 110 may besupplied into the freezer compartment 30.

Since the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment 40 is higherthan that of the freezer compartment 30, it is unnecessary to flow intothe first and second tubes 111 and 112 at the same time. As describedabove, when the refrigerant flows into only the first tube 111, thetemperature of the freezer compartment may be decreased. When therefrigerant flows into only the first tube 111, since an output of thecompressor 50 may be decreased, power consumption may be reduced.

In the current embodiment, when the refrigerant flows into only thefirst tube 111, it may be understood that only a portion of theevaporator 110 is operated as a whole.

In the current embodiment, a reason in which the refrigerant flows intoonly the first tube 111 relatively away from the refrigeratorcompartment 40 in the first and second tubes 111 and 112 is forminimizing the heat-exchange between the refrigerator compartment 40 andthe evaporator 110 (or evaporator accommodating part).

When the temperatures of the freezer compartment 30 and the freezercompartment 40 reach the set temperature during the supply of thecooling air into the freezer compartment 30 and the refrigeratorcompartment 40, the operations of the compressor 50 and the motor 132are stopped.

As described above, when the cooling air exchanging heat with theevaporator 110 while passing through the evaporator 110, frost isdeposited on the evaporator 110. When the frost is deposited on theevaporator 110, since the performance of the evaporator 110 isdeteriorated, the frost should be removed. In this case, therefrigerator is operated in the defrosting mode.

When the refrigerator is operated in the defrosting mode, the valve 92controls the refrigerant passage so that the high-temperaturerefrigerant discharged from the compressor 50 flows into the bypass tube90. The refrigerant flowing into the bypass tube 90 is decompressedwhile passing through the decompression part 94 and is introduced intothe evaporator 110. Here, the refrigerant within the bypass tube 90 mayflow into one of the first and second tubes 111 and 112 or flow into thefirst and second tubes 111 and 112 at the same time. For example, whenthe amount of deposited frost is small, the refrigerant may flow intoone of the plurality of tubes. Also, when the amount of deposited frostis large, the refrigerant may flow into each of the tubes at the sametime.

In the current embodiment, since conditions for the defrosting operationmay use well-known conditions, their detailed descriptions will beomitted. The amount of deposited frost may be determined by atemperature sensor (not shown) for detecting a temperature of theevaporator or the evaporator accommodating part. For example, when thedetected temperature is less than a first reference temperature and asecond reference temperature (less than the first referencetemperature), the bypassed refrigerant may flow into one of theplurality of tubes. Also, when the detected temperature is less than thesecond reference temperature, the bypassed refrigerant may flow into theplurality of tubes at the same time.

When the refrigerant within the bypass tube 90 flows into the evaporator110, the frost generated on the evaporator 110 is removed while therefrigerant flows into the evaporator 110.

According to the current embodiment, since the frost may be removedwithout providing a separate defrosting heater, the power consumptionmay be further reduced when compared to that according to a related art.In addition, since the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 50 ismoved along the inside of the evaporator 110, the frost generated on theentire of the evaporator 110 may be quickly removed.

An evaporator having a structure different from that of theabove-described evaporator may be applied to the current embodiment.Hereinafter, the current embodiment is the same as the foregoingembodiments except for positions of first and second tubes constitutingan evaporator. Thus, characteristic portions of the current embodimentwill be described below.

FIG. 31 is a vertical sectional view illustrating another evaporatorstructure of the barrier according to the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 31, an evaporator 110 according to the currentembodiment includes a first tube 111 and a second tube 112.

Each of the first and second tubes 111 and 112 is bent several times andis vertically disposed. The second tube 112 is disposed at a side of thefirst tube 111. The first tube 111 is disposed adjacent to a freezercompartment 30 than the second tube 112.

A distance from a barrier cover 400 to a line L1 horizontally bisectingeach of heat exchange fins 115 or a mounting structure 113 is greaterthan a distance from the barrier cover to a line L2 bisecting ahorizontal distance between the first tube 111 and the second tube 112which have the same height.

That is, in the evaporator 110, each of the tubes 111 and 112 arearranged close to the freezer compartment. This is done to minimize heatexchange between the evaporator 110 and the refrigerator compartment 40.That is, the more a distance between the tubes 111 and 112 and an end ofthe heat exchange fin adjacent to the refrigerator compartment 40 isaway from, the more thermal conductivity is reduced. Thus, in thecurrent embodiment, each of the tubes 111 and 112 is disposed at aposition adjacent to the freezer compartment 30 from the plurality ofheat exchange fins.

Similarly to the first embodiment, when the temperature of the freezercompartment 30 reaches the set temperature, but the temperature ofrefrigerator compartment 40 does not reach the set temperature duringthe supply of the cooling air into the freezer compartment 30 and therefrigerator compartment 40, the refrigerant flows into only the firsttube 111.

An evaporator having a structure different from that of theabove-described evaporator may be applied to the current embodiment.Hereinafter, the current embodiment is the same as the foregoingembodiments except for positions of first and second tubes constitutingan evaporator. Thus, characteristic portions of the current embodimentwill be described below.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating another evaporator structureaccording to the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 32, an evaporator 800 according to the currentembodiment includes first and second tubes 801 and 802 through which arefrigerant flows and a plurality of heat exchange fins 803 throughwhich each of the tubes 801 and 802 passes.

In detail, the first tube 801 is bent several times. Also, the firsttube 801 is disposed at a lower side with respect to a reference linevertically bisecting the plurality of heat exchange fins 803. The secondtube 802 is bent several times. Also, the second tube 802 is disposed atan upper side with respect to the reference line vertically bisectingthe plurality of heat exchange fins 803. That is, the second tube 802 isdisposed downstream from the first tube 801 with respect to a flowdirection A of air.

Thus, after exchanging heat with the first tube 801, cooling air ismoved upward to exchange heat with the second tube 802.

Similarly to the sixth embodiment, when the temperature of the freezercompartment 30 reaches the set temperature, but the temperature ofrefrigerator compartment 40 does not reach the set temperature duringthe supply of the cooling air into the freezer compartment 30 and therefrigerator compartment 40, the refrigerant flows into only the firsttube 111.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

1. A refrigerator comprising: a storage space comprising a freezercompartment and a refrigerator compartment; a barrier main body definingthe freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment; an insulatordisposed at a side of the barrier main body to insulate the refrigeratorcompartment from the freezer compartment; an evaporator disposed at aside of the insulator to generate cooling air; a fan motor assemblydisposed at an upper side of the evaporator to provide a driving forcefor circulating cooling air; a barrier cover configured to cover sidesof the evaporator and the fan motor assembly; and a cooling-air passagedefined between the insulator and the barrier cover to allow a flow ofcooling air generated by the evaporator.
 2. The refrigerator accordingto claim 1, wherein the barrier main body comprises: a first caseforming a side surface of the refrigerator compartment; a second caseforming a side surface of the freezer compartment; and a concave partformed by recessing at least a part of the second case.
 3. Therefrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the insulator is disposedbetween the first case and the second case.
 4. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 2, wherein a bottom surface of the concave part formsa side surface of the first case, and the insulator is placed in theconcave part.
 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein thecooling-air passage is formed by recessing at least a part of theinsulator, and a part of the insulator corresponding to the cooling-airpassage is brought into contact with the barrier cover.
 6. Therefrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the insulator comprises: afirst insulator part at a side of the evaporator; a second insulatorpart at a side of the fan motor assembly; and a third insulator part ata side of the cooling-air passage.
 7. The refrigerator according toclaim 6, wherein the first and third insulator parts are thicker thanthe second insulator part.
 8. The refrigerator according to claim 1,wherein the insulator comprises: a vacuum insulator comprising a sealingpart and a core material disposed in the sealing part, the sealing partcomprising a thermal deposition layer; and a polyurethane foam at a sideof the vacuum insulator.
 9. The refrigerator according to claim 1,wherein the barrier main body comprises: a cooling-air inlet disposed ata lower side of the evaporator to introduce cooling air from therefrigerator compartment; and a cooling-air outlet disposed at an upperside of the cooling-air passage to discharge cooling air to the freezercompartment.